Declaring War on Two Fronts

Exhibit Theme

Declaring War on Two Fronts

In December 1941, Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor, ending the debate over whether the United States would intervene in WWII. Congress declared war against Japan on December 8. Three days later Japan’s Axis partners, Germany and Italy, announced they were at war with the United States. Congress immediately passed resolutions declaring war with Germany and Italy, and began to enact crucial legislation supporting the war effort.

The House and Senate adopted a joint resolution, S.J. Res.119, declaring war against Germany, on December 11, 1941. This first draft of the resolution shows that the Senate used the declaration of war against Japan, S.J. Res. 116, as the basis of the document and replaced references to “Japan” with “Germany.”

Records of the U.S. Senate, National Archives and Records Administration

The House and Senate adopted a joint resolution, S.J. Res.119, declaring war against Germany, on December 11, 1941. This first draft of the resolution shows that the Senate used the declaration of war against Japan, S.J. Res. 116, as the basis of the document and replaced references to “Japan” with “Germany.”

Records of the U.S. Senate, National Archives and Records Administration